18 February 2016
 Categories: , Blog

Electric fencing is an excellent fencing system that can handle different tasks. For animals, it's an excellent choice for sheep, cattle, horses, chickens, and goats, among others. Properly functioning electric fences will deter predators and keep out critters while ensuring your animals are contained safely within the fencing. To ensure effective functioning of your electric fences, you need to have the proper installation setups and styles as well as the maintenance of the fences. Therefore, if you are looking to contain your pastured poultry and free-range chicken, here are excellent options of electric fencing supplies you may want to consider.

One/Two-Wire Electric Fences

There are different types of electric fences you can use for your chicken, such as the anti-raccoon measure. This simply consists of strands of electric fence wires installed off the ground. Aluminium wires are the best for such purposes because of conductivity. For enhanced efficiency and effectiveness, you can add a second strand. The fence wires will zap predators when they try stepping over. Sometimes your chickens may get past your fence, especially when they run out of feed or if they are fenced tightly. However, these electric fences are suited ideally to giving your chickens a lot of space, which may not be affordable or may be more expensive with other methods.

Electrified Net Fencing

If you need to keep your chickens tightly fenced or keep stubborn predators at bay, then this is your best option. It comes in rolls as electro-netting or electric garden fencing in varying heights and can be stepped over easily. Unlike hens that may require elbowroom, this type of fencing is more suitable for broilers that don't use a lot of space and you can simply yard them tightly. Proper maintenance is key with this fencing because when you leave it in the same location for too long, grass will start growing through the bottom wires and removing it can be a daunting task.

Combination Fencing

This type of fencing involves adding electric wires to your already existing permanent fence on your farm or garden. This will work well and you need to concentrate on the wires closest to the ground. You can also add a single strand at the top for predators that may try climbing. Aluminium wires will work just well but if you want a string trimmer at the bottom to keep weeds at bay, go for heavy galvanised wire. Since the electric wires will require energising, choose powerful AC-powered energisers because the low wires are prone to shorting out against weeds and grass. For this reason, it may take a lot of power to keep them running again and battery-powered energisers or chargers may not be powerful enough to get the job done.